Antitumor protein and corresponding gene sequence isolated from matsutake mushrooms

ABSTRACT

An objective of the present invention is to provide an antitumor protein and a gene encoding the same. The specification discloses a protein comprising (a) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 or (b) a modified amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 which have antitumor activity wherein one or more amino acids are added and/or inserted into the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 and/or one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 are substituted and/or deleted.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/023,731, filed on Feb. 13, 1998, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,648, which claims the benefit of Japanese application No. 9-029275, filed Feb. 13, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an antitumor protein and an nucleotide sequence encoding the same.

2. Background Art

Various studies have been conducted on antitumor substances found in edible mushrooms.

For example, polysaccharides and glycoprotein from mushrooms which have antitumor activity are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos.61214/1977, 74797/1980, 293923/1986, 70362/1993 and 80699/1994, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 47518/1986, 47519/1986 and 26172/1991. It is also reported that mushrooms are found to have antitumor activity when administered.

However, there has been no report on an amino acid sequence of an antitumor protein derived from Tricholoma matsutake which directly kills a tumor cell and on a gene encoding said protein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors now have purified an antitumor protein derived from Tricholoma matsutake and determined an amino acid sequence as well as a cDNA sequence encoding the protein. Further, the inventors have successfully purified the cDNA sequence and obtained a recombinant antitumor protein expressed in E. coli which is transformed by introducing a vector comprising the cDNA sequence. The present invention is based on these findings.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an antitumor protein, a fragment of said protein, a nucleotide molecule encoding said protein, a vector comprising said molecule, a host cell transformed by said vector, a process for preparing said protein, and an antibody against said protein.

The protein according to the present invention comprises

(a) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1, or

(b) a modified amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 which has antitumor activity wherein one or more amino acids are added and/or inserted into the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 and/or one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 are substituted and/or deleted.

The protein according to the present invention is useful as an antitumor agent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of plasmid vector pTS18.

FIG. 2 illustrates the deletion of the TTM gene. Dashed lines denote a deleted area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Protein

The protein according to the present invention comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1. A protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 has antitumor activity as described in examples.

Examples of the proteins according to the present invention include those consisting of a modified amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.1 which has antitumor activity wherein one or more amino acids are added and/or inserted into the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.1 and/or one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.1 are substituted and/or deleted. The terms “addition”, “insertion”, “substitution” and “deletion” refer to those which do not damage the antitumor activity of the protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.1. The numbers of modifications such as additions, insertions, substitutions and deletions may be in the range between 1 and 8.

An addition, insertion, substitution or deletion may be introduced into an amino acid sequence in accordance with, for example, Molecular Cloning (A laboratory manual), second edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Vol. 2, Chap. 15 (1989); Botstein, D. et al., Science, 229:1193 (1985); Craik, C. S., Bio. Techniques, 3:12 (1985); Itakura, K. et al., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 53:323 (1984); Shortle, D. et al., Annu. Rev. Genet. 15:265 (1981); or Smith, M. Annu. Rev. Genet. 19:423 (1985).

The wording “protein which have antitumor activity” as used herein refers to a protein which is evaluated by one skilled in the art to have antitumor activity, for example, a protein which is evaluated to have antitumor activity as tested under the conditions in Example 1 (3).

The molecular weight of the protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.1 is about 65 kDa as measured by SDS-PAGE.

The amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.1 can be prepared by expression of the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO.2 in a bacteria using a common technique. The cDNA sequence can be prepared by screening a cDNA library derived from Tricholoma matsutake using an antibody against the antitumor protein as a probe (see Example 2).

The protein according to the present invention has antitumor activity. Therefore, the protein according to the present invention may be formulated in a pharmaceutical composition which is used in the treatment of tumor such as carcinoma of uterine cervix or corpus uteri, and a variety of cancers caused by abnormal expression of antioncogene p53 or pBR (e.g., carcinoma cutaneum, lung cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, and breast cancer).

The pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention may be administered to a mammal including a human perorally or parenterally (e.g., intramuscularly, intravenously, subcutaneously, intrarectally, percutaneously or pernasally) in a form suitable for peroral or parenteral administration. A formulation which directly reaches a target area (e.g., a tablet which dissolves at a specific site, a liniment, or an injection) may be preferably used in the treatment of tumor.

The protein according to the present invention may be formulated in oral drugs (e.g., tablets, capsules, granules, powder, pills, grains, troches) when considering stability of the protein and the drug delivery path; injectable drugs (e.g., for intravenous or intramuscular injection); intrarectal drugs; and soluble or insoluble suppositories depending on its intended use. The pharmaceutical composition in these forms may be prepared by conventional methods with pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles such as bulking agents and fillers; adjuvants such as binding agents, wetting agents, disintegrants, surfactants, lubricants, dispersers, buffering agents, and solution adjuvant; additives such as preservatives, antiseptics, flavouring agents, soothing agents, stabilizers, coloring agents, and sweeting agents. A dose for various treatments may be determined depending on the route of administration as well as the age, sex, and condition of the patient.

Nucleotide Sequence

The present invention provides a nucleotide sequence encoding the protein according to the present invention. Examples of such nucleotide sequences include those comprising all or part of the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO.2. Other examples of such nucleotide sequences include those comprising all or part of the DNA sequence in SEQ ID NO.2.

As mentioned above, the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO.2 was obtained from a cDNA library derived from Tricholoma matsutake. This DNA sequence contains an open reading frame of the protein which starts at ATG (1-3) and ends at TAA (1699-1701).

The amino acid sequence determines a number of possible base sequences that encode the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO.1.

When the amino acid sequence of the protein according to the present invention is given, a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence is easily determined, and a variety of nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 can be selected.

Thus, a nucleotide sequence encoding the protein according to the present invention include DNA sequences which degenarate as a result of the genetic code as to the DNA sequence of SEQ ID No.2 as well as RNA sequences corresponding to the DNA sequences.

The nucleotide sequence according to the present invention may be naturally occurred or obtained by synthesis. It may also be synthesized with a part of a sequence derived from the naturally occurring one. DNAs may typically be obtained by screening a chromosome library or a cDNA library in accordance with conventional methods in the field of genetic engineering, for example, by screening a chromosome library or a cDNA library with an appropriate DNA probe obtained based on information of the partial amino acid sequence. The nucleotide sequence according to the present invention can be prepared, for example, from Tricholoma matsutake cDNA library by using an oligonucleotide encoding a peptide selected from SEQ ID Nos.3-18 as a screening probe.

The nucleotide sequences from nature are not specifically restricted to any sources; but may be derived from Tricholoma matsutake or other sources.

Vectors and Transformed Cells

The present invention provides a vector comprising the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention in such a manner that the vector can be replicable and express the protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence in a host cell. In addition, according to the present invention, we provide a host cell transformed by the vector. There is no other restriction to the host-vector system. It may express proteins fused with other proteins. Examples of an expression system of a fusion protein include those expressing MBP (maltose binding protein), GST (glutathione-S-transferase), HA (hemagglutinin), polyhistidine, myc, and Fas.

Examples of such systems expressing fusion proteins include those expressing β-galactosidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and luciferase.

Examples of vectors include plasmid vectors (e.g., pBluescript SK(−), pBluescript SK(+), pGEX-4T, pGEX-5T, pRIT2T, pBPV, and pSVK3 (Pharmacia, etc.); ZAP Express, pYEUra3, pMAM, and pOG (Toyobo); pET-11a, b, c, and d, pET-20b, pET-28a, b, and c, and pET-32a and b (Novagen); pQE-10, 16, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70) (Qiagen); virus vectors (e.g., retrovirus vectors and adenovirus vectors); and liposome vectors (e.g., cationic liposome vectors).

In order to prepare a desired protein in the host cell, the vector according to the present invention may have a sequence which regulate expression of the protein (e.g., a promoter sequence, a terminator sequence, or an enhancer sequence) or markers for selecting a host cell (e.g., a neomycin-resistant gene or a kanamycin-resistant gene). Further, the vector may have the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention in a repeted form (e.g., in a tandem form). Such additional sequences may be introduced into the vector. A host cell may be transformed by the vector by conventional methods.

The vector according to the present invention may be prepared by conventional methods and procedures of the genetic engineering field.

Examples of host cells include E. coli (e.g., SOLR, JM109, XL1-Blue MRF′, SURE, TOP, and BL21(DE3)), yeast cells (e.g. YRG-2), Bacillus subtilis, animal cells (e.g., CHO cells, COS cells, human keratinocytes, COP-5, C127, mouse 3T3 cells, FR3T3, and HB101). The SOLR, SURE, and TOP strains are host cell names registered with the RIKEN Cell Bank, 3-1-1 Koyadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0074 JAPAN. The C127 cell line is deposited with the RIKEN Cell Bank, and has been assigned accession no. RCB0036.

The protein according to the present invention is obtained from the culture by culturing host cells which are transformed as described above in an appropriate medium. Therefore, the present invention provides a process for preparing the protein according to the present invention. Such a process enables mass production of an antitumor protein.

The culture of the transformed host cell and culture condition may essentially be the same as those for the cell to be used. In addition, the protein according to the present invention may be recovered from the culture medium and purified according to conventional methods, for example, chromatography such as ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, and immunoaffinity chromatography

Antibody

The present invention provides an antibody against the protein according to the present invention. The term “antibody” as used herein includes a polyclonal antibody or a monoclonal antibody.

The antibody according to the present invention can be prepared by conventional methods, for example, by injecting the protein of SEQ ID NO.1 or a fragment thereof into an animal (e.g., rabbit, rat or mouse) together with suitable carriers (e.g., Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvants) and then purifying the serum from the animal after a certain period.

Specific reaction (i.e., immuno reaction) of the antibody may be used as an indicator of an antitumor protein. Therefore, the antibody according to the present invention may be used for purifying and screening an antitumor protein.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is further illustrated by the following Examples which are not intended as a limitation of the invention.

Example 1 Purification of Antitumor Protein

(1) Purification of Protein

An antitumor protein was purified from commercially available (or wild) fresh Tricholoma matsutake by homogenizing it in accordance with conventional methods and then isolating using purifying procedures such as column chromatography, HPLC, and electrophoresis. The detailed procedure is as follows:

A Tris buffer solution containing NaCl and protease inhibitor (50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM PMSF, 1 mM EDTA, 0.1 mM IAA (iodoacetamide), 1 μg/ml pepstatin A, and 1 μg/ml leupeptin) was used for the preliminary elution of the protein, followed by precipitation with ammonium sulfate (90% saturated ammonium sulfate). The precipitate was dialyzed with 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) containing {fraction (1/10)} the above protease inhibitor (PI) to desalt. Then, after DEAE Toyopearl (ion exchange chromatography), concentration of the active fraction, purification through phenyl Sepharose (hydrophobic chromatography), concentration of the active fraction, gel filtration by HPLC (TSK gel G3000SW), the purified protein was finally obtained.

In ion exchange chromatography and hydrophobic chromatography, 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) containing PI was used as eluant. For linear concentration gradient, NaCl and (NH₄)₂SO₄ were used, respectively. In gel filtration, 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) containing 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ and PI was used as eluant.

The sample obtained by gel filtration with HPLC was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The protein on the gel, which was transferred to a PVDF membrane and stained with CBB, exhibited a single band (about 65 kDa).

It was found that when Tricholoma matsutake with no freshness was used or when no protease inhibitor was used in purifying procedures, yield and antitumor activity were found to be lower.

Some of the samples were recovered by staining the gel with CBB after SDS-PAGE, and cutting it to extract electrically. These samples were used to determine the amino acid sequence (Example 2).

It was also found that the protein can be purified by affinity chromatography using a column in which the antibody (see (2)) was bound to CNBr-activated Sepharose 6MB resin (Pharmacia).

(2) Polyclonal Antibody

A rabbit was immunized with the protein purified in (1) to prepare antiserum. The procedure is as follows:

The purified protein, 15 μg, was mixed with Freund's complete adjuvant, stirred intensely to emulsion, and subcutaneously injected to the back of a rabbit. After 3 weeks, the rabbit was boosted with 150 μg of the purified protein, which was mixed with Freund's incomplete adjuvant to give emulsion. Then, after 2 weeks, they were directly reboosted using 50 μg of antibody, and blood was collected from its earlobe 1 week later.

Next, 5 ml of antiserum was incubated at 56° C. for 30 min, mixed with 5 ml of PBS(−) and the same amount of saturated (NH₄)₂SO₄, and maintained still in iced water. After centrifugation, the precipitate was redissolved in sodium phosphate buffer solution and mixed with an additional amount of saturated (NH₄)₂SO₄ to a final (NH₄)₂SO₄ concentration of 20%. After centrifugation, the supernatant was recovered and mixed with an additional amount of saturated (NH₄)₂SO₄ to a final (NH₄)₂SO₄ concentration of 33%. After centrifugation, the precipitate was recovered and redissolved. It was then dialyzed and desalted, followed by ion exchange chromatography (DE52 resin), to give an IgG fraction.

(3) Antitumor Activity Test

Lethal activity was investigated on cells which had been transformed by simian virus 40 (SV40) and human papiloma virus (HPV) which were known to cause malignant alteration. More specifically, antitumor activity was estimated with lethal activity. When the protein purified in (1) above was given to the cells, the quantity of the tested protein necessary for 50% fatal activity of total cells was 10 ng/ml in SVT2 cells (transformed SV40 cells), 100 ng/ml in A31 cells (transformed SV40 cells), and 15-20 ng/ml in human preputial cells (transformed HPV16 cells).

Example 2 cDNA Cloning and Sequencing

The amino acid sequence at the N-terminal of the protein purified in Example 1 was determined (SEQ ID NOS.3 and 4) using a protein sequencer (Hewlett-Packard).

Also, the protein obtained in Example 1 was digested using lysyl endnuclease to give a number of peptide fragments. Among them, the amino acid sequences of 14 peptide fragments were determined (SEQ ID NOS.5-18).

On the other hand, Tricholoma matsutake mRNA was purified with oligo-dT Latex (oligo-dT particles; Takara), then with STRATAGENE ZAP-CDNA Synthesis Kit (available from Toyobo), to synthesize cDNA. After synthesized, the cDNA was packaged in vitro in lambda phage using Gigapak III Gold (Stratagene, available from Toyobo) to prepare a phage library.

Using the antibody obtained in Example 1 (2) as a probe, the phage library was screened for the antitumor gene. Twenty-one phages were tested positive. The procedure is as follows:

The concentration of the library was determined with titer. About 2,000 to 20,000 phages and 600 μl E. coli (XL1-Blue) were plated in 150 mm NZYM culture plates together with 6ml NZYM Top Agar (0.7%). They were incubated at 42° C. for 3-4 hours until plaques developed to suitable sizes of about 1 mm. Then, a 130-140 mm nitrocellulose membrane soaked with 10 mM IPTG was placed on each plate, and incubation was continued at 37° C. for 3 hours. After the plates were cooled at 4° C. for 1 hour or more, the nitrocellulose filters were removed from the plates, and shaken in TBS-T buffer solution containing 3% skim milk.

Next, the filters were soaked in the buffer solution of the primary antibody (Example 1 (2)), and gently shaken in TBS-T buffer solution containing 3% skim milk. The filters were then soaked in the buffer solution of secondary antibody conjugated to alkali phosphatase (AP), and washed with TBS-T buffer solution. After they were washed with alkali phosphatase (AP) buffer solution, positive phages were detected.

The resulting positive phages were transformed with SOLR strains (Stratagene) by in vivo excision, using ZAP-cDNA Synthesis Kit (available from Toyobo) according to a manufacturer's manual.

Plasmid pTS18 as shown in FIG. 1 was obtained from the transformants. Plasmid pTS18 (containing the cDNA sequence in SEQ ID NO. 1) was used in Example 3 as an expression vector.

The resulting pTS18 was deleted by using Exo/Mung DNA Sequencing System (Stratagene), blunted at both terminals, and ligated with self-DNA (FIG. 2). Next, E. coli JM109 (Toyobo) was transformed with the deleted plasmid DNA. The nucleotide sequences of the portions of the gene into which deletion mutation was introduced were completely determined using ABI PRISM Cycle Sequencing Kit (Parkin Elmer) both on the sense and anti-sense chains.

The determined partial sequences were used to establish the complete amino acid sequence and cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO.2) of the antitumor protein. A deduced molecular weight was about 62 kDa. The amino acid sequence on the N terminal (SEQ ID NOS.3 and 4) agreed with the amino acid sequence 2-30 and the amino acid sequence 2-58 in SEQ ID NO.1.

Also, the sequences of the peptide fragments (SEQ ID NOS.5-18) agreed with the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO.1 as follows:

SEQ ID NO.5: 59-77 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.6: 89-149 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.7: 150-178 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.8: 179-209 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.9: 210-267 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.10: 268-297 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.11: 298-355 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.12: 356-406 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.13: 407-436 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.14: 437-486 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID NO.15: 487-521 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID No.16: 522-554 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID No.17: 555-566 in SEQ ID NO.1;

SEQ ID No.18: 78-99 in SEQ ID NO.1.

These peptide fragments are useful as antigens for obtaining an antibody against the antitumor protein which can be used in a method for screening and purifying an antitumor protein.

Example 3 Production of Antitumor Protein (1)

Competent cells (JM109 strain; Toyobo) stored at −80° C. were melted, and 100 μl of the cells was transferred to Falcon tube (code 2059). It was mixed with deleated clones of pTS18 (Example 2) and allowed to stand in iced water for 30 min. After exposed to a thermal shock (42° C.) for 30 s, it was cooled in ice for 2 min. After 900 μl SOC culture was added, it was incubated at 37° C. for 1 hour with shaking. The cells were then planted in an LB/Amp plate in an appropriate amount, and incubated overnight at 37° C. A colony having an area of a platinum ring that appeared on the plate was transplanted to a liquid LB culture (containing Amp), and incubated at 37° C. until absorption at 660 nm (Abs660) increased to about 0.2. Then, after IPTG was added to a final concentration of 10 mM, the culture was incubated until Abs660 increased to about 1.

The cells were suspended in the extract (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5) used in Example 1 (1), which contained PI, and ultrasonically destroyed. After the extract (50 mM Tris-HCl) was centrifuged, the supernatant was recovered in the eluate via affinity chromatography (CNBr-activated Sepharose 6MB resin; Pharmacia) binding the antibody described in Example 1 (2).

The eluate was analyzed by SDS-PAGE combined with Western blotting using the antibody described in Example 1 (2). The result showed that the protein according to the present invention was expressed in the host cell.

Example 4 Production of Antitumor Protein (2)

(1) Preparation of Expression Vector pET-28a

A DNA fragment encoding the antitumor protein was generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using plasmid pTS18 (10 ng)(Example 2) as a template DNA. PCR reaction was carried out using reagents packaged in a commercialy available kit (TAKARA Co.) and the following primers (5 pmole, each) in accordance with a manufacturer's manual.

(SEQ ID NO. 19) Primer 1: GAGAGACCATGGGGTATCGTCTTTCC (SEQ ID NO. 20) Primer 2: GAGAGAGGATCCGGAGACGCCAAGGAT

After the PCR reaction, the product was digested by NcoI and BamHI. The resulting fragment (0.1 μg) was ligated into the NcoI/BamHI site of pET-28a (0.5 μg) (Novagen).

The resulting DNA construct was introduced into competent cells (E. Coli, DH5α and JM109 strains; Toyobo). The plasmid DNA which was harvested from the transformed cells was introduced into competent cells (BL21 (DE3) strain; Novagen).

(2) Preparation of Expression Vector pET-28b

A DNA fragment encoding the antitumor protein was prepared by digesting plasmid pTS18 (Example 2) by EcoRI and XhoI and collecting EcoRI/XhoI fragments. The resulting fragments (0.1 μg) were ligated into the EcoRI/XhoI site of pET-28b (0.5 μg)(Novagen).

The resulting DNA construct was introduced into competent cells (E. Coli, DH5α and JM109 strains; Toyobo). The plasmid DNA which was harvested from the transformed cells was introduced into competent cells (BL21 (DE3) strain; Novagen).

(3) Expression of Antitumor Protein Gene

One loopful of the transformed cells, BL21 (DE3) strain having pET-28a and BL21 (DE3) strain having pET-28b, obtained as described in Example 3 (1) and (2) were inoculated on 1 ml of NZYM medium containing 50 μg/ml of Kanamycin and preincubated at 37° C. overnight. 100 μl taken from the cultured medium was inoculated on 10 ml of NZYM medium containing 50 μg/ml of kanamycin and incubated at 25° C. until Abs600 increased to about 0.4. After IPTG was added to a final concentration of 1.0 mM, the culture was incubated for 24 hours.

The cells were harvested from the culture medium, suspended in the extract (25 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.0) used in Example 1 (1) containing PI, and ultrasonically destroyed.

After the extract (25 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.0) was centrifuged, the precipitate was recovered. The precipitate was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. A single band was observed on the position of 65 kDa.

The precipitate was also analyzed by Western blotting using the antibody described in Example 1 (2). An immunoreactive band was observed at the same position as that observed on the SDS-PAGE gel. This result showed that the gene of the antitumor protein was expressed in the host cells.

20 566 amino acid linear protein 1 Met Pro Ile Arg Leu Ser Lys Glu Lys Ile Asn Asp Leu Leu Gln Arg 1 5 10 15 Ser Gln Gly Asp Leu Thr Ser Ser Gln His Glu Ile Val His Phe Thr 20 25 30 Asp Val Phe Ile Ala Gly Ser Gly Pro Ile Ser Cys Thr Tyr Ala Arg 35 40 45 His Ile Ile Asp Asn Thr Ser Thr Thr Lys Val Tyr Met Ala Glu Ile 50 55 60 Gly Ser Gln Asp Asn Pro Val Ile Gly Ala His His Lys Asn Ser Ile 65 70 75 80 Lys Phe Gln Lys Asp Ile Asp Lys Phe Val Asn Ile Ile Asn Gly Ala 85 90 95 Leu Gln Pro Ile Ser Ile Ser Pro Ser Asp Thr Tyr Gln Pro Thr Leu 100 105 110 Ala Val Ala Ala Trp Ala Pro Pro Ile Asp Pro Ala Glu Gly Gln Leu 115 120 125 Val Ile Met Gly His Asn Pro Asn Gln Glu Ala Gly Leu Asn Leu Pro 130 135 140 Gly Ser Ala Val Thr Arg Thr Val Gly Gly Met Ala Thr His Trp Thr 145 150 155 160 Cys Ala Cys Pro Thr Pro His Asp Glu Glu Arg Val Asn Asn Pro Val 165 170 175 Asp Lys Gln Glu Phe Asp Ala Leu Leu Glu Arg Ala Lys Thr Leu Leu 180 185 190 Asn Val His Ser Asp Gln Tyr Asp Asp Ser Ile Arg Gln Ile Val Val 195 200 205 Lys Glu Thr Leu Gln Gln Thr Leu Asp Ala Ser Arg Gly Val Thr Thr 210 215 220 Leu Pro Leu Gly Val Glu Arg Arg Thr Asp Asn Pro Ile Tyr Val Thr 225 230 235 240 Trp Thr Gly Ala Asp Thr Val Leu Gly Asp Val Pro Lys Ser Pro Arg 245 250 255 Phe Ala Leu Val Thr Glu Thr Arg Val Thr Lys Leu Ile Val Ser Glu 260 265 270 Thr Asn Pro Thr Gln Val Val Ala Ala Leu Leu Arg Asn Leu Asn Thr 275 280 285 Ser Asn Asp Glu Leu Val Val Ala Lys Ser Phe Val Ile Ala Cys Gly 290 295 300 Ala Val Cys Thr Pro Gln Ile Leu Trp Asn Ser Asn Ile Arg Pro Tyr 305 310 315 320 Ala Leu Gly Arg Tyr Leu Ser Glu Gln Ser Met Thr Phe Cys Gln Ile 325 330 335 Val Leu Lys Arg Gly Ile Val Asp Ala Ile Ala Thr Asp Pro Arg Phe 340 345 350 Ala Ala Lys Val Glu Ala His Lys Lys Lys His Pro Asp Asp Val Leu 355 360 365 Pro Ile Pro Phe His Glu Pro Glu Pro Gln Val Met Ile Pro Tyr Thr 370 375 380 Ser Asp Phe Pro Trp His Val Gln Val His Arg Asp Ala Phe Ser Tyr 385 390 395 400 Gly Asp Val Gly Pro Lys Ala Asp Pro Arg Val Val Val Asp Leu Arg 405 410 415 Phe Phe Gly Lys Ser Asp Ile Val Glu Glu Asn Arg Val Thr Phe Gly 420 425 430 Pro Asn Pro Lys Leu Arg Glu Trp Glu Ala Gly Val Thr Asp Thr Tyr 435 440 445 Gly Met Pro Gln Pro Thr Phe His Val Lys Arg Thr Asn Ala Asp Gly 450 455 460 Asp Arg Asp Gln Arg Met Met Asn Asp Met Thr Asn Val Ala Asn Met 465 470 475 480 Leu Gly Gly Tyr Leu Pro Gly Ser Tyr Pro Gln Phe Met Ala Pro Gly 485 490 495 Leu Val Leu His Ile Thr Gly Thr Thr Arg Ile Gly Thr Asp Asp Gln 500 505 510 Thr Ser Val Ala Asp Pro Thr Ser Lys Val His Asn Phe Asn Asn Leu 515 520 525 Trp Val Gly Gly Asn Gly Cys Ile Pro Asp Ala Thr Ala Cys Asn Pro 530 535 540 Thr Arg Thr Ser Val Ala Tyr Ala Leu Lys Gly Ala Glu Ala Val Val 545 550 555 560 Asn Tyr Leu Gly Val Ser 565 1701 nucleic acid linear (D) STRANDNESS Single cDNA to RNA 2 ATG CCG ATA CGT CTT TCC AAA GAA AAA ATC AAC GAC CTG CTG CAA CGT 48 Met Pro Ile Arg Leu Ser Lys Glu Lys Ile Asn Asp Leu Leu Gln Arg 1 5 10 15 TCT CAA GGG GAT CTT ACT TCC TCG CAA CAC GAA ATT GTA CAT TTC ACT 96 Ser Gln Gly Asp Leu Thr Ser Ser Gln His Glu Ile Val His Phe Thr 20 25 30 GAT GTT TTC ATT GCT GGC AGT GGT CCC ATT AGC TGT ACT TAC GCC CGC 144 Asp Val Phe Ile Ala Gly Ser Gly Pro Ile Ser Cys Thr Tyr Ala Arg 35 40 45 CAC ATC ATT GAC AAT ACC TCA ACT ACA AAG GTT TAC ATG GCC GAA ATA 192 His Ile Ile Asp Asn Thr Ser Thr Thr Lys Val Tyr Met Ala Glu Ile 50 55 60 GGT TCT CAA GAT AAC CCT GTC ATC GGG GCC CAT CAC AAG AAC TCC ATA 240 Gly Ser Gln Asp Asn Pro Val Ile Gly Ala His His Lys Asn Ser Ile 65 70 75 80 AAG TTT CAG AAA GAC ATT GAC AAG TTT GTG AAT ATC ATC AAC GGT GCC 288 Lys Phe Gln Lys Asp Ile Asp Lys Phe Val Asn Ile Ile Asn Gly Ala 85 90 95 CTC CAG CCG ATT TCG ATT TCG CCA TCG GAC ACC TAC CAG CCC ACT CTC 336 Leu Gln Pro Ile Ser Ile Ser Pro Ser Asp Thr Tyr Gln Pro Thr Leu 100 105 110 GCT GTA GCA GCG TGG GCG CCG CCC ATC GAT CCT GCC GAA GGC CAG CTC 384 Ala Val Ala Ala Trp Ala Pro Pro Ile Asp Pro Ala Glu Gly Gln Leu 115 120 125 GTG ATT ATG GGA CAC AAT CCG AAT CAG GAG GCC GGC CTG AAC CTT CCC 432 Val Ile Met Gly His Asn Pro Asn Gln Glu Ala Gly Leu Asn Leu Pro 130 135 140 GGT AGC GCT GTC ACT AGG ACA GTC GGG GGG ATG GCG ACC CAC TGG ACT 480 Gly Ser Ala Val Thr Arg Thr Val Gly Gly Met Ala Thr His Trp Thr 145 150 155 160 TGC GCG TGT CCT ACT CCA CAT GAC GAA GAG AGG GTC AAC AAC CCA GTT 528 Cys Ala Cys Pro Thr Pro His Asp Glu Glu Arg Val Asn Asn Pro Val 165 170 175 GAC AAG CAG GAG TTC GAC GCA CTG CTC GAA CGT GCT AAA ACA TTG CTC 576 Asp Lys Gln Glu Phe Asp Ala Leu Leu Glu Arg Ala Lys Thr Leu Leu 180 185 190 AAC GTT CAC AGC GAC CAG TAC GAC GAT TCT ATC CGT CAG ATA GTT GTC 624 Asn Val His Ser Asp Gln Tyr Asp Asp Ser Ile Arg Gln Ile Val Val 195 200 205 AAA GAG ACT CTT CAG CAG ACC CTT GAT GCG TCG CGG GGT GTG ACC ACT 672 Lys Glu Thr Leu Gln Gln Thr Leu Asp Ala Ser Arg Gly Val Thr Thr 210 215 220 CTC CCG CTG GGG GTG GAG CGC CGT ACG GAC AAT CCT ATT TAT GTC ACC 720 Leu Pro Leu Gly Val Glu Arg Arg Thr Asp Asn Pro Ile Tyr Val Thr 225 230 235 240 TGG ACC GGT GCC GAT ACC GTC CTT GGT GAT GTG CCG AAG AGT CCC CGA 768 Trp Thr Gly Ala Asp Thr Val Leu Gly Asp Val Pro Lys Ser Pro Arg 245 250 255 TTC GCT TTG GTT ACA GAG ACG AGA GTG ACG AAG CTT ATT GTC AGT GAA 816 Phe Ala Leu Val Thr Glu Thr Arg Val Thr Lys Leu Ile Val Ser Glu 260 265 270 ACC AAT CCG ACG CAG GTT GTT GCT GCG TTG CTA CGT AAC TTG AAT ACA 864 Thr Asn Pro Thr Gln Val Val Ala Ala Leu Leu Arg Asn Leu Asn Thr 275 280 285 AGC AAC GAT GAA CTT GTC GTG GCC AAG AGT TTC GTC ATA GCT TGT GGA 912 Ser Asn Asp Glu Leu Val Val Ala Lys Ser Phe Val Ile Ala Cys Gly 290 295 300 GCA GTC TGC ACA CCG CAA ATC TTG TGG AAC AGC AAC ATC CGC CCA TAT 960 Ala Val Cys Thr Pro Gln Ile Leu Trp Asn Ser Asn Ile Arg Pro Tyr 305 310 315 320 GCG CTT GGT CGC TAC CTC AGC GAA CAG TCC ATG ACT TTT TGT CAG ATC 1008 Ala Leu Gly Arg Tyr Leu Ser Glu Gln Ser Met Thr Phe Cys Gln Ile 325 330 335 GTT CTC AAG AGG GGC ATA GTC GAT GCC ATC GCT ACT GAC CCT CGC TTC 1056 Val Leu Lys Arg Gly Ile Val Asp Ala Ile Ala Thr Asp Pro Arg Phe 340 345 350 GCT GCG AAG GTT GAG GCG CAC AAG AAG AAG CAC CCC GAT GAC GTG CTG 1104 Ala Ala Lys Val Glu Ala His Lys Lys Lys His Pro Asp Asp Val Leu 355 360 365 CCC ATT CCA TTC CAC GAG CCT GAA CCT CAA GTG ATG ATT CCG TAC ACG 1152 Pro Ile Pro Phe His Glu Pro Glu Pro Gln Val Met Ile Pro Tyr Thr 370 375 380 TCG GAC TTC CCT TGG CAT GTT CAG GTG CAT CGC GAT GCA TTC TCA TAT 1200 Ser Asp Phe Pro Trp His Val Gln Val His Arg Asp Ala Phe Ser Tyr 385 390 395 400 GGT GAT GTT GGA CCC AAG GCC GAC CCG CGT GTT GTC GTC GAT CTG AGG 1248 Gly Asp Val Gly Pro Lys Ala Asp Pro Arg Val Val Val Asp Leu Arg 405 410 415 TTT TTC GGC AAA TCA GAT ATT GTC GAA GAA AAT CGA GTG ACT TTC GGT 1296 Phe Phe Gly Lys Ser Asp Ile Val Glu Glu Asn Arg Val Thr Phe Gly 420 425 430 CCG AAC CCT AAG CTA CGC GAG TGG GAA GCG GGT GTT ACA GAC ACT TAT 1344 Pro Asn Pro Lys Leu Arg Glu Trp Glu Ala Gly Val Thr Asp Thr Tyr 435 440 445 GGA ATG CCA CAG CCG ACA TTC CAT GTC AAG CGG ACC AAC GCC GAT GGA 1392 Gly Met Pro Gln Pro Thr Phe His Val Lys Arg Thr Asn Ala Asp Gly 450 455 460 GAC CGT GAC CAG AGG ATG ATG AAT GAT ATG ACC AAC GTC GCG AAC ATG 1440 Asp Arg Asp Gln Arg Met Met Asn Asp Met Thr Asn Val Ala Asn Met 465 470 475 480 CTG GGT GGG TAC CTT CCT GGC TCC TAC CCT CAA TTT ATG GCA CCT GGT 1488 Leu Gly Gly Tyr Leu Pro Gly Ser Tyr Pro Gln Phe Met Ala Pro Gly 485 490 495 CTC GTA CTG CAC ATC ACG GGA ACT ACT CGG ATC GGG ACA GAT GAT CAA 1536 Leu Val Leu His Ile Thr Gly Thr Thr Arg Ile Gly Thr Asp Asp Gln 500 505 510 ACT TCT GTT GCT GAT CCG ACA TCA AAG GTT CAT AAC TTC AAC AAT CTG 1584 Thr Ser Val Ala Asp Pro Thr Ser Lys Val His Asn Phe Asn Asn Leu 515 520 525 TGG GTC GGC GGG AAT GGG TGC ATT CCA GAT GCG ACT GCC TGC AAC CCG 1632 Trp Val Gly Gly Asn Gly Cys Ile Pro Asp Ala Thr Ala Cys Asn Pro 530 535 540 ACT CGT ACG AGC GTC GCG TAT GCG CTC AAG GGT GCT GAG GCT GTA GTC 1680 Thr Arg Thr Ser Val Ala Tyr Ala Leu Lys Gly Ala Glu Ala Val Val 545 550 555 560 AAT TAC CTT GGC GTC TCC TGA 1701 Asn Tyr Leu Gly Val Ser * 565 29 amino acid linear peptide 3 Pro Ile Arg Leu Ser Lys Glu Lys Ile Asn Asp Leu Leu Gln Arg Ser 1 5 10 15 Gln Gly Asp Leu Thr Ser Ser Gln His Glu Ile Val His 20 25 57 amino acid linear peptide 4 Pro Ile Arg Leu Ser Lys Glu Lys Ile Asn Asp Leu Leu Gln Arg Ser 1 5 10 15 Gln Gly Asp Leu Thr Ser Ser Gln His Glu Ile Val His Phe Thr Asp 20 25 30 Val Phe Ile Ala Gly Ser Gly Pro Ile Ser Cys Thr Tyr Ala Arg His 35 40 45 Ile Ile Asp Asn Thr Ser Thr Thr Lys 50 55 19 amino acid linear peptide 5 Val Tyr Met Ala Glu Ile Gly Ser Gln Asp Asn Pro Val Ile Gly Ala 1 5 10 15 His His Lys 61 amino acid linear peptide 6 Phe Val Asn Ile Ile Asn Gly Ala Leu Gln Pro Ile Ser Ile Ser Pro 1 5 10 15 Ser Asp Thr Tyr Gln Pro Thr Leu Ala Val Ala Ala Trp Ala Pro Pro 20 25 30 Ile Asp Pro Ala Glu Gly Gln Leu Val Ile Met Gly His Asn Pro Asn 35 40 45 Gln Glu Ala Gly Leu Asn Leu Pro Gly Ser Ala Val Thr 50 55 60 29 amino acid linear peptide 7 Arg Thr Val Gly Gly Met Ala Thr His Trp Thr Cys Ala Cys Pro Thr 1 5 10 15 Pro His Asp Glu Glu Arg Val Asn Asn Pro Val Asp Lys 20 25 31 amino acid linear peptide 8 Gln Glu Phe Asp Ala Leu Leu Glu Arg Ala Lys Thr Leu Leu Asn Val 1 5 10 15 His Ser Asp Gln Tyr Asp Asp Ser Ile Arg Gln Ile Val Val Lys 20 25 30 58 amino acid linear peptide 9 Glu Thr Leu Gln Gln Thr Leu Asp Ala Ser Arg Gly Val Thr Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Pro Leu Gly Val Glu Arg Arg Thr Asp Asn Pro Ile Tyr Val Thr Trp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ala Asp Thr Val Leu Gly Asp Val Pro Lys Ser Pro Arg Phe 35 40 45 Ala Leu Val Thr Glu Thr Arg Val Thr Lys 50 55 30 amino acid linear peptide 10 Leu Ile Val Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro Thr Gln Val Val Ala Ala Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Arg Asn Leu Asn Thr Ser Asn Asp Glu Leu Val Val Ala Lys 20 25 30 58 amino acid linear peptide 11 Ser Phe Val Ile Ala Cys Gly Ala Val Cys Thr Pro Gln Ile Leu Trp 1 5 10 15 Asn Ser Asn Ile Arg Pro Tyr Ala Leu Gly Arg Tyr Leu Ser Glu Gln 20 25 30 Ser Met Thr Phe Cys Gln Ile Val Leu Lys Arg Gly Ile Val Asp Ala 35 40 45 Ile Ala Thr Asp Pro Arg Phe Ala Ala Lys 50 55 51 amino acid linear peptide 12 Val Glu Ala His Lys Lys Lys His Pro Asp Asp Val Leu Pro Ile Pro 1 5 10 15 Phe His Glu Pro Glu Pro Gln Val Met Ile Pro Tyr Thr Ser Asp Phe 20 25 30 Pro Trp His Val Gln Val His Arg Asp Ala Phe Ser Tyr Gly Asp Val 35 40 45 Gly Pro Lys 50 30 amino acid linear peptide 13 Ala Asp Pro Arg Val Val Val Asp Leu Arg Phe Phe Gly Lys Ser Asp 1 5 10 15 Ile Val Glu Glu Asn Arg Val Thr Phe Gly Pro Asn Pro Lys 20 25 30 50 amino acid linear peptide 14 Leu Arg Glu Trp Glu Ala Gly Val Thr Asp Thr Tyr Gly Met Pro Gln 1 5 10 15 Pro Thr Phe His Val Lys Arg Thr Asn Ala Asp Gly Asp Arg Asp Gln 20 25 30 Arg Met Met Asn Asp Met Thr Asn Val Ala Asn Met Leu Gly Gly Tyr 35 40 45 Leu Pro 50 35 amino acid linear peptide 15 Gly Ser Tyr Pro Gln Phe Met Ala Pro Gly Leu Val Leu His Ile Thr 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Thr Arg Ile Gly Thr Asp Asp Gln Thr Ser Val Ala Asp Pro 20 25 30 Thr Ser Lys 35 33 amino acid linear peptide 16 Val His Asn Phe Asn Asn Leu Trp Val Gly Gly Asn Gly Cys Ile Pro 1 5 10 15 Asp Ala Thr Ala Cys Asn Pro Thr Arg Thr Ser Val Ala Tyr Ala Leu 20 25 30 Lys 12 amino acid linear peptide 17 Gly Ala Glu Ala Val Val Asn Tyr Leu Gly Val Ser 1 5 10 22 amino acid linear peptide 18 Asn Ser Ile Lys Phe Gln Lys Asp Ile Asp Lys Phe Val Asn Ile Ile 1 5 10 15 Asn Gly Ala Leu Gln Pro 20 26 nucleic acid Single linear synthetic DNA 19 GAGAGACCAT GGGGTATCGT CTTTCC 26 27 nucleic acid Single linear synthetic DNA 20 GAGAGAGGAT CCGGAGACGC CAAGGAT 27 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleotide molecule which encodes a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 1. 2. A nucleotide molecule according to claim 1, which encodes a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 1. 3. A nucleotide molecule according to claim 1, wherein the nucleotide molecule comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 2. 4. A nucleotide molecule according to claim 1 comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 2. 5. A nucleotide molecule according to claim 1 which is from Tricholoma matsutake.
 6. A vector comprising a nucleotide molecule according to claim
 1. 7. A vector according to claim 6, which is selected from the group consisting of plasmid vectors, virus vectors, and liposome vectors.
 8. A vector according to claim 6, which is selected from the group consisting of pBluescript SK(−), pBluescript (+), pRIT2T, pBPV, pSVK3, pET vector, and pQE vector.
 9. An isolated host cell comprising the vector according to claim
 6. 10. A host cell according to claim 9, which is selected from the group consisting of E. coli, a yeast cell, Bacillus subtilis, a CHO cell, a COS cell, a human keratinocyte, a C127 cell, a mouse 3T3 cell, a FR3T3 cell, and an HB101 cell.
 11. A host cell according to claim 9 which is E. coli selected from the group consisting of a SOLR strain, a JM109 strain, a SURE strain, a TOP strain, and a BL21 strain.
 12. A host cell according to claim 9 which is a yeast YRG-2 strain.
 13. A process for preparing a protein, comprising culturing a host cell comprising a nucleotide molecule according to claim 1 which encodes the protein, and isolating the protein from a culture medium. 